Magazine ranks La. No. 5 in business climate

Advocate business staff report

July 28, 2012

2 Comments

Louisiana has been ranked No. 5 in business climate by Business Facilities magazine.

Louisiana rose from No. 7 in 2011 to No. 5 in the magazine’s 2012 State Rankings Report, after the state had climbed into the Top 10 at No. 8 in 2010, when Business Facilities also named Louisiana its State of the Year.

In its 2012 Rankings Report, Business Facilities wrote that Louisiana “has married an unmatched work force training program with a bevy of new incentives that are spurring hot new growth sectors, including digital media.”

Investments from digital media/technology companies include CenturyLink, GE Capital, Schumacher Group, Gameloft and EA, the state economic development department said in a news release, but investments also have come from such companies as Sasol Ltd., Cheniere Energy and iron and steel maker Nucor.

“This ranking speaks volumes about our work to eliminate burdensome business taxes, rein in excessive spending, reform our ethics system, and overhaul our work force development system,” Gov. Bobby Jindal said in a statement.

Louisiana’s No. 5 Business Facilities ranking continues a trend of rising business climate rankings, he said. Before 2008, Louisiana typically was in the lower tier of state business climate rankings, the press release said. Area Development now ranks Louisiana No. 6 in the magazine’s Top States for Doing Business report, while Site Selection magazine ranks Louisiana No. 7 among the best business climates in the U.S.

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Comments (2)


1) Comment by spqr - 24/07/2012

Jindal is a joke. No transparency. No accountability. Dictatorial.

2) Comment by ScotB - 23/07/2012

The Jindal administration has worked hard to create a favorable business environment and enhance the state's national reputation as a good place to do business. This is what the people are saying is their primary concern during this recession and it appears Jindal has been effective by most any measure in achieving this goal. That is a contrast to the effectiveness of the Obama administration and where its efforts have been focused. Elections would ideally be about the candidate's capacity to govern, rather than a popularity contest. I hope they seriously consider Bobby Jindal for VP and whoever assumes the governorship will continue the great work he has started. (Stephen Moret for Commerce Secretary?)